Disposable overshoe



Nov. 8, 1966 M. K. NYGARD 3,283,422

DISPOSABLE OVERSHOE Filed May 21, 1964 ATTO/F/I/EKS' United StatesPatent 3,283,422 DISPOSABLE OVERSHOE Meri K. Nygard, 2455 CaliforniaAve., Muskegon, Mich.

Filed May 21, 1964, Ser. No. 369,245 4 Claims. (Cl. 36-1) This inventionrelates to wearing apparel, and especially to overshoes. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a new and unique construction fordisposable overshoes.

In the past, many different forms of overshoes have been devised forprotecting the shoes of the wearer from becoming soiled and wet duringinclement weather, especially during the winter season. Owing to thedelicacy of womens dress shoes, and also to the lack of protection thatthese afford to the feet of their wearers, womens overshoes are anabsolute necessity in such weather.

As it happens, however, most of the functions to which the ladies weartheir flimsiest shoes, such as to fine restaurants, the theater, andother like social gatherings, make little or no provision for storingwet and dirty overshoes during the time that they are not needed.Moreover, even when such storage facilities are provided, the overshoesare likely to be so dirty and wet that the wearer must necessarily dirtyher hands or gloves by removing and handling them so that they can bestored. Also, this undesirable procedure must be repeated upon onceagainst returning to the out-of-doors. Y Consequently, many personsprefer to not wear any overshoes at all, but this of course is injuriousto the health, and also ruins many pairs of fine shoes.

This invention seeks as one of its major objects to solve the aboveproblem, by providing a convenient form of overshoe construction whichis suitable to temporarily protect the feet of the wearer, and yet is soinexpensive that they may simply be thrown away upon arrival at thedesired destination, thereby dispensing with all need for storing thewet and dirty objects.

Yet another important object of this invention is to provide adisposable overshoe construction of the type indicated which is light inweight and very compact, and which consequently may easily be carried inthe pocket or purse, so that one may constantly be prepared forencountering bad weather, whether this be unexpectedly or Whether it beupon leaving a place where one had previously disposed of a prior pairof the overshoes.

Still another important object of this invention is to provide a form ofconstruction for disposable overshoes of the type indicated, whichconstruction lends itself ideally to an economical and convenientpackaging and dis ensing scheme.

The above major objects, together with other additional objects andnumerous other advantages will become increasingly apparent uponconsideration of the following specification, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, showing a pair of the overshoes as they arepackaged and dispensed;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a partially folded singleovershoe, showing details of its construction;

7 and ice vals along its tubular length, thereby dividing the tube intoa series of discrete generally rectangular portions. Second, anobliquely excursive seam is formed across each such rectangular portion,thus dividing each of these into a matching pair of hollow envelopes ofgenerally triangular configuration. An opening in or near the excursiveseam of each of the triangular envelopes provides access thereinto, andreceives the foot of the wearer when the overshoe is to be worn. Thus,each of the discrete rectangular portions noted comprise a pair ofseparably attached overshoes, which are laid out so that the toe portionof each lies adjacent the instep part of the other.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, in FIG. 1 anillustrative pair of overshoe envelopes 10 and 12 is seen as the same islaid out upon a fragmentary section of a continuous length of thepreferred material. The material preferably is in the form of aseamless, generally oblate or flat tube 14, which when collapsedcomprises two superposed layers or sheets, with connected longitudinaledges.

' A plurality of transverse seams 16 are formed across the seamless tube14 so as to join its top and bottom layers. Consequently, the tube 14 isdivided into a series of separate, discrete, generally rectangularportions such as 18.

Across each of the discrete portions 18 I form an obliquely excursiveseam 20, which serves to further divide each of the portions 18 into apair of matching,

.hollow, generally triangular envelopes 10 and 12. The

excursive seams 20 preferably are generally straight, and connect twoopposite corners of the portions 18. It is to be expressly understood,however, that the seams 20 may be curved if desired, and may connect anytwo nonadjacent extremities of the portions 18, whether theseextremities be corners or sides. What is required is that the obliqueseams 20 divide each portion 18 into a pair of overshoe envelopes suchas 10 and 12, each of which has its toe portion lying adjacent theinstep part of the other. In the case of the preferred straight seam 20,the toe portion and instep part of each overshoe are of course caused tomerge into each other, and it is this combined surface which liesadjacent the like surface of the other overshoe.

If the seamless tube 14 be made of a filmy plastic substance such as Ifind most preferable, the seams 16 and 20 may conveniently be formed byheat-sealing the two layers of plastic together. I wish to make clear,however, that many other materials may also be well-suited for mypurpose, and these should be joined together into similar seams inwhichever manner is deemed to be best suitable.

The transverse seams 16 and the obliquely excursive seams 20 bothinclude a series of perforations or other suitable means for separatingadjacent portions, which extend substantially the entire length of theseam. The

. perforations or other means allow successive portions 18 to beseparated from the series thereof which have been formed from the tube14, and they further allow each such portion 18 to be separated into thetwo triangular envelopes 10 and 12.

As indicated by the designations A and B of FIG. 1, an opening is formedin each of the triangular envelopes '10 and 12, preferably along theirlongest side, i.e., the side formed by the seam 20. The openings A andB, whose function is subsequently discussed in detail, may be of anydesired length and configuration, and may also be placed in any side ofthe envelope other than its longest, if this is deemed desirable.

If a single given triangularly-shaped envelope such as 10 or 12 beseparated from the rectangular portion 18 from which it is formed, andif the transverse and oblique seams 16 and 20, respectively, along itstwo sides be to the preferred embodiment described, but only further, sothat it was laid out fiat, it would be in-the 51} form of an isoscelestriangle, whose two equal sides have 1 been formed by the seam 20, andwhose other side has been formed by the fully opened transverse seam 16.In forming an overshoe, this isosceles triangle has a fold "along itslongest median (that is, the perpendicular bisector of its said otherside). FIG. '2. The said isosceles triangle thus forms a matching Thisfold is illustrated in pair of triangularly-shaped lateral portions suchas 22 l and 24, which have substantially identical corresponding sides,the shorter two of which approach perpendicularity. The threecorresponding sides of each such triangle are joined together by thetransverse seams 16, the oblique seams 20, and the fold which has beennoted, to form the hollow envelopes and 12 from each rectangular por- 3tion 18.

The manner of wearing the overshoes taught herein is illustrated in FIG.3, where it will be seen that each of l the triangular portions 10 and12 formed from a single rectangular portion 18 comprise a singleovershoe. 3 opening A (or B) formed in the longest side thereof providesaccess into the hollow interior, and it is through this openingthat thefoot of the wearer is inserted. The re- 3 mainder ofthegarment'completely encompasses the foot i can easily be torn orotherwise separated from the remainder of the package, and these may befolded into a very small and compact bundle for carrying in handbags orpockets, in the event that they will be needed at some time in thefuture.

- Thus, one may always be prepared for wet and sloppy weather. to aparticular place, simply discarded upon arrival (thereby dispensing withthe need for storing or otherwise caring for them), and upon leaving maysimply put on a clean and dry new pair, which have been convenientlycarried upon the person.

While I have described the embodiment of this invention which I find tobe most preferable, other variations and modifications thereof may beproduced without departing from the spirit of the invention and itsunderlying concept. Accordingly, I do not wish to be limited merely as1s expressly set forth in the appended claims.

' I claim:

1. A package of separably attached disposable overshoes, comprising: agenerally oblate tubular length of sheet material; transverse seamsextending across said length of material substantially perpendicular tothe sides thereof and dividing the same into a plurality of discrete TheAlso, a pair of these overshoes may be worn rectangularly shapedportions; an obliquely excrusive seam ing a pair of substantiallyperpendicular edges formed by a side of said tubular length and one ofsaid transverse seams and providing the bottom and rear of an overshoeand each triangular envelope also having a hypotenuse edge formed bysaid excrusive seam and providing the instep of said" overshoe; and anopening formed in the said instep portion of each of said envelopes,'forreceiving the foot of a wearer.

2. A package of separably attached disposable overshoes, comprising: aplurality of generally fiat superposed sheets of material; seams joiningcorresponding longitudinal edges of each pair of said sheets; transverseseams extending across each of said joined pairs of sheets substantiallyperpendicular to the said longitudinal edges thereof and dividing eachpair into a plurality of discrete generally rectangular portions; anobliquely excursive seam extending generally diagonally across each ofsaid portions dividing the same into a pair of generally righttriangular hollow envelopes; each of said envelopes having a pair ofsubstantially perpendicular edges formed by a side of said tubularlength and one of said transverse seams and providing the bottom andrear of an overshoe and each triangular envelope also having ahypotenuse edge formed by said excursive seam and providing theinstep'of said overshoe; and an opening formedin the said instep portionof each of said envelopes, for receiving the foot of a wearer.

3. A package of separably attached pairs of disposable overshoes,comprising: a length of two layers of superposed thin plastic sheetmaterial joined together at the longitudinal edges of said layers; aplurality of transverse seams across said length joining said layers andforming a plurality of discrete portions therefrom; an obliquelyexcursive seam across each of said portions forming therefrom a pair ofmatching hollow triangular envelopes; perforations formed at each ofsaid seams whereby each of said portions may be separated from theremainder of said package and dividedinto a pair of said envelopes;

and an opening formed in the longest side of each of said envelopes forreceiving the foot of a wearer.

4. A package of mutually separable attached pairs of overshoes,comprising: two layers of sheet material joined together at a pluralityof places to form a plurality of 1 generally rectangular portions, atleast one obliquely excursive seamacross eachsuch portion, whereby thesame is divided into a pair of adjacent overshoe envelopes; each of saidenvelopes having an instep part lying along said seam, and each saidinstep ,part lying symmetrically adjacent the other said instep part;and an opening in each such envelope for receiving the foot of a wearer.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 1,145,0937/1915 Swift. 2,866,488 12/1958 Thompson. 2,924,029 2/1960 Rosen 36-7.12,935,241 5/1960 Brady 229 53 2,952,926 9/1960 Laven 3610 X 3,000,1189/1961 OShea 3( 10 3,172,796 3/1965 Gulker 229 22 X FOREIGN PATENTS584,727 9/1923 Germany.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Examiner.

1. A PACKAGE OF SEPARABLY ATTACHED DISPOSABLE OVERSHOES, COMPRISING: AGENERALLY OBLATE TUBULAR LENGTH OF SHEET MATERIAL; TRANSVERSE SEAMSEXTENDING ACROSS SAID LENGTH OF MATERIAL SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TOTHE SIDES THEREOF AND DIVIDING THE SAME INTO A PLURALITY OF DISCRETERECTANGULARLY SHAPED PORTIONS; AN OBLIQUELY EXCRUSIVE SEAM EXTENDINGGENERALLY DIAGONALLY ACROSS EACH OF SAID PORTIONS DIVIDING THE SAME INTOA PAIR OF GENERALLY RIGHT TRIANGULAR HOLLOW ENVELOPES; EACH OF SAIDENVELOPES HAVING A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR EDGES FORMED BY ASIDE OF SAID TUBULAR LENGTH AND ONE OF SAID TRANSVERSE SEAMS ANDPROVIDING THE BOTTOM AND REAR OF AN OVERSHOE AND EACH TRIANGULARENVELOPE ALSO HAVING A HYPOTENUSE EDGE FORMED BY SAID EXCRUSIVE SEAM ANDPROVIDING THE INSTEP OF SAID OVERSHOE; AND AN OPENING FORMED IN THE SAIDINSTEP PORTION OF EACH OF SAID ENVELOPES, FOR RECEIVING THE FOOT OF AWEARER.